Markthal is undoubtedly innovative with its inverted horseshoe shape that creates a giant arch of 40m in height and 120m in length. Below the structure is a large four-level basement car parking (yes, everything about this development is big!) and a supermarket.

At Ground Floor, between two immense glazed walls, is an enclosed food hall that can accommodate 96 food stands. The lower two floors shelter retail units, restaurants and cafes. So far, the development just looks like an expensive covered market but there is in fact more to it. 228 apartments over nine floors are embedded in the vault itself, whilst overlooking the market below or enjoying a view of Rotterdam and its nearby rivers. The apartments are both for sale and rent and offered a mix of 3-5 bedrooms (which is common in Europe).

The ‘superdutch’ architects at MVRDV took the project a step further by incorporating a 3D fresco realised by Arco Coenen depicting produces of the market over a 11 000m2 surface (just in case you cannot get enough of that market feel).

So, is this mixed-use market hall too much? Could you imagine something like this - let’s say - as part of the Queen Victoria Market precinct renewal project?

In this instance, the Markthal project was envisaged as a way of providing housing in an area that suffers great deficit but also to revitalize the centre of Rotterdam, its market (although only a small amount of the existing outdoor market stands could afford to move inside the vault), and contribute to the vibrancy and livability of this district.

Former market, a few meters from the Market Hall
Image source: Jessica Guirand (DLA)

Many have acclaimed MVRDV’s boldness but others remain skeptical as to the place of such a structure in the existing urban fabric. Despite its architectural quality, the building seems to only add on to the juxtaposition of iconic buildings without creating a link between the structures.